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Bank of Good Practices in Social Inclusion through WBL
Second Chance Schools (SDE) – Public Adult Education with Technical Orientation
Overview
Second Chance Schools (SDE) were established in Greece to combat adult illiteracy and social exclusion, offering adults aged 18+ a second opportunity to complete lower secondary education. Operated under the Ministry of Education, SDEs function as gateways to vocational and technical education (e.g., IEK, EPAS), particularly in sectors such as construction, maintenance, and energy. The program addresses high dropout rates, unemployment, and lack of access to upskilling for vulnerable adults. SDEs are located across Greece, often in marginalized urban and rural areas, and involve partnerships with social services, municipalities, and career counseling networks.
Objectives
Reintegration of vulnerable adults into the education and labor market system.
Provide foundational skills, personal development, and a bridge to VET pathways (e.g., technical schools in Habitat-related fields).
Support Roma, migrants, and former inmates with mentoring, career orientation, and accessible curricula.
Provide foundational skills, personal development, and a bridge to VET pathways (e.g., technical schools in Habitat-related fields).
Support Roma, migrants, and former inmates with mentoring, career orientation, and accessible curricula.
Implementation
Flexible adult education curriculum (language, math, ICT, social skills).
Personalized education plans with mentoring and psychosocial support.
Transition bridges to vocational institutions (e.g., IEK) with emphasis on energy, repair, building, and maintenance professions.
Local-level engagement with municipalities to support attendance and outreach in Roma and disadvantaged communities.
Personalized education plans with mentoring and psychosocial support.
Transition bridges to vocational institutions (e.g., IEK) with emphasis on energy, repair, building, and maintenance professions.
Local-level engagement with municipalities to support attendance and outreach in Roma and disadvantaged communities.
Innovative features
Flexible scheduling, Personalized guidance, Transition support to VET and WBL, Outreach to marginalized groups, Gender-sensitive and intercultural materials
Success stories
• Early dropout due to family responsibilities → mitigated through flexible hours and municipal childcare support.
• Stigma and mistrust from Roma communities → addressed with local Roma mediators and peer role models.
• Limited visibility → improved through social media, municipality outreach, and partnerships with VET providers.
• Stigma and mistrust from Roma communities → addressed with local Roma mediators and peer role models.
• Limited visibility → improved through social media, municipality outreach, and partnerships with VET providers.
Measured outcomes
• Increased graduation rates for adult learners in marginalized groups
• Over 60% of graduates continue to VET programs or employment
• Boost in basic skills (literacy, ICT, social) and confidence among Roma and women learners
• Over 60% of graduates continue to VET programs or employment
• Boost in basic skills (literacy, ICT, social) and confidence among Roma and women learners
- CountryGreece
- SectorConstruction Education and pedagogy Sustainability and green jobs Technical training
- Target groupEthnic minorities Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers People at risk of poverty or social exclusion
Leading organisation
Ministry of Education of Greece (General Secretariat for Lifelong Learning)
Date
2000, ongoing
Key stakeholders
• VET providers and training centers: IEK/EPAS receiving SDE graduates
• NGOs and social organizations: NGOs supporting marginalized learners
• Government agencies and policymakers: Ministry of Education (GS for Lifelong Learning), Local municipalities and community social services, Career counseling centers (KESYP)
• Employers and business networks: employers in construction and maintenance sectors (via referral pathways)
• NGOs and social organizations: NGOs supporting marginalized learners
• Government agencies and policymakers: Ministry of Education (GS for Lifelong Learning), Local municipalities and community social services, Career counseling centers (KESYP)
• Employers and business networks: employers in construction and maintenance sectors (via referral pathways)
Number of beneficiaries
Over 30,000 adults have graduated since 2000 (approx. 2,000–2,500 per year across 70+ SDEs)
